Active travel counters
We have collected information from 58 walking and cycling counters located across the city. This information will help to monitor levels of walking and cycling, analyse trends and plan for future projects.
Search the interactive map of walking and cycling counters by entering a particular site, sites or place names.
Edinburgh walking and cycling index
The biannual Walking and Cycling Index Edinburgh, delivered in partnership between Sustrans and the City of Edinburgh Council draws on independent survey feedback from a cross-section of more than 1,200 residents in the Capital, surveyed in 2023.
Key findings
Regular walking and wheeling remains as high as 2021, with two-thirds of people travelling by foot or wheel five days a week.
The annual number of cycling trips has increased to 30.7 million from 24.4 million in 2021, although the number of residents cycling at least once a week dropped slightly in 2023 from 26% to 22%.
Almost half of residents want to walk and wheel (45%) and cycle (49%) more too, along with a quarter who want to use public transport more, and improved infrastructure is key to this.
The majority of residents think their local areas could be improved through a 20-minute neighbourhood approach - with more and easier to access shops and everyday services (79%) and parks and greenspaces close to home ( 78%) amongst the incentives to walking and wheeling more.
Sixty-nine per cent agree they can already get to many places they need to visit without having to drive.
Key statistics
- Health: Each year, walking, wheeling and cycling in Edinburgh prevents 1,314 serious long-term health conditions. The physical activity benefits of walking and cycling prevent 347 early deaths annually, valued at £1.26 billion.
- Environment: On an annual basis, walking, wheeling and cyling takes up to 160,000 cars off the road, saving 42,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions
- Inequalities: Fifty five per cent of people from ethnic minority groups walk, wheel or cycle at least five days a week compared to 67% of white people. Seventy three per cent of non-disabled residents think the level of walking safety is good in their local area compared to 62% of disabled residents. Twenty eight per cent of men cycle at least once a week while only 16% of women do.
- Funding: Over half of residents (57%) want to see more government spending on both walking and cycling, and 68% would like more investment in public transport.
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